This punch, infused with his Pure Yang True Energy, was capable of penetrating the viscera and bowels and possessed powerful restorative properties; its effects were naturally remarkable.
"I’m sorry, I misunderstood you." Xue Rou finally realized the truth, feeling incredibly embarrassed.
Su Hao held up a finger and shook his head: "A simple apology won't suffice."
"Then I’ll say it again?"
"..."
Su Hao felt his wife was hilariously foolish.
"You’re handling all the house cleaning this month, otherwise I won't forgive you."
"Fine, fine, fine, that's acceptable."
Xue Rou sighed in relief, but then lamented, "Sigh, I offended Xue Aohan so badly today that the collaboration between Shangxue Company and Dazzling Group is likely impossible now."
Seeing Xue Rou tousling her hair and looking completely dejected, Su Hao comforted her: "I have a way, don't worry."
"What way?" both women asked in unison.
"I haven't thought of one yet."
The two women: "..."
*Friends in the city, please come help me beat him up, thanks!*
Chapter 13: Monarch, are you having a fever?
The incident of the villain falling from the building left many employees terrified. Xue Rou immediately called the police and even found a defense lawyer for Su Hao to ensure he wouldn't face criminal charges.
Unexpectedly, upon arriving, the inspectors repeatedly thanked Su Hao. It turned out the villain was an S-rank wanted criminal who had committed numerous crimes; the authorities had been hunting him for a long time and had even issued a large bounty. However, the man was cunning, changing his name and hiding after every crime, making him extremely difficult to capture. Little did they know, he had been accidentally taken down by Su Hao today.
"Mr. Su, you’ve done something that brings great satisfaction to the people of Jinling. I will apply for that 100,000 reward for you as soon as possible. Thank you for your heroic courage."
Watching the inspectors lead the villain away and salute Su Hao, Xue Rou couldn't help but laugh and cry at the same time.
"Your luck is just too good!"
"It’s a must, good people are rewarded," Su Hao said with a toothy grin.
In truth, he had detected the murderous aura on the villain long ago; one doesn't accumulate that much without being responsible for over a dozen lives. Therefore, even if he had killed the man, he wouldn't have faced any trouble.
"Keke, I have quite a few troublesome matters recently. Why don't you go home and stay there for a few days? We can hang out again once I’ve resolved everything," Xue Rou suggested.
Song Keke had been injured twice in the last two days. Although not serious, one can never be too careful. If something were to happen to her, she would find it hard to answer to Grandpa Song.
"Why? Are you trying to get rid of me so you can get handsy with Su Hao and enjoy your 'blissful' life as a couple?" Song Keke pulled a long face, feeling wronged. "You choose your man over your best friend; so that’s the kind of person you are, Rou."
"Oh, what nonsense are you spouting? I’m worried about your safety!" Xue Rou stomped her foot, blushing. "Zhao Tai’s targets are only me and Su Hao; you have nothing to do with this, so there’s no need for you to step into this fire pit. There are definitely experts on the other side. Su Hao could handle it this time, but the next time might be different. We’ll need someone to call for help then!"
Song Keke thought for a moment and nodded. "Fine, since you’re begging me so desperately, I’ll reluctantly agree. And I’m not doing this because I’m afraid of those experts; it’s because you asked me to go back and rest, and I’m creating some space for you two so I don't have to be a third wheel. Once you two officially tie the knot, you better not forget my contribution today!"
Xue Rou blushed and rolled her eyes. "Alright, alright, you’re the only one who can talk. I really should sew your mouth shut. Hurry back, stay safe on the road, and we’ll video chat later."
"I won't! I don't want to see you and 'someone' showing off your love," Song Keke said stubbornly as she got into the car, disappearing from their sight.
Su Hao smiled without a word. Song Keke was clearly also worried about adding to Xue Rou’s troubles and had decisively chosen to keep her distance. It’s just that her headstrong personality needed some adjusting; she was far too tsundere.
"I need to have my secretary call a meeting to steady the employees' nerves. Wait for me a moment." After seeing Song Keke off, Xue Rou hurried to her office.
Su Hao didn't just stand there blankly; he walked to a shaded spot, pulled out his phone, and dialed a number saved as 'Lin Langtian.'
"Monarch, I have waited a year for this call. All members of the Tiger Dynasty have been waiting for your orders. Today, the time has finally come. I shall lead the Tiger Dynasty to fight in all directions alongside the Monarch and sweep across the world, hahaha~"
Su Hao’s mouth twitched as he listened to the cringeworthy speech on the other end. "Xiao Tian, I didn't call you to fight; I need you to do me a favor."
Lin Langtian said solemnly: "I am willing to go through fire and water for the Monarch, even offer my heart!"
"The Tiger Dynasty has several strongholds in Huaxia and deep connections. Have the person in charge of the Jinling stronghold reach out to Dazzling Group. Tell them to cooperate with Shangxue Company at all costs, the sooner the better!"
Lin Langtian was silent for a moment before saying incredulously, "Monarch, you aren't joking, are you?"
"Is this hard to do?"
"It’s not hard; it’s even easier than taking a sip of water." Lin Langtian sounded depressed. "I truly cannot fathom how such a trivial, sesame-seed-sized matter could cause the Monarch to make such a big fuss?"
"Can’t be helped, my wife’s company is in the development stage," Su Hao chuckled awkwardly.
"Wife?!"
Lin Langtian was stunned, and it took him a long while to say, "Monarch, are you having a fever?"
"Why do you say that?"
"The year before last, the eldest daughter of the top financial group in Korea offered a trillion in assets as a dowry, just asking you to take her as a concubine," Lin Langtian said indignantly. "Last year, Princess Elizabeth of the British Empire renounced her claim to the throne just to pour tea and water by your side. Although they aren't exactly beauties—they looked like pigs—they were surely better than a female CEO of a fledgling company, right?"
Su Hao countered, "Can’t I like someone who is pretty?"
"Of course not!" Lin Langtian felt aggrieved. "Monarch, you are a god in the hearts of everyone in the Tiger Dynasty, an insurmountable legend. How could your sense of values be swayed by looks? If you are being threatened, just cough, and I will summon every member of the Tiger Dynasty right now to fight them to the death."
Hearing Lin Langtian’s bristling tone, Su Hao had no choice but to be honest. "This marriage was decided by my master, and I have my own plans. Don't get so worked up, just help me with this favor."
"Sigh, I thought the Monarch liked someone like me, so I waited so long. It’s a pity the flower has no desire, and the water flows heartlessly..."
"Remember to handle the task. Let's talk next time."
Su Hao’s face darkened, and he decisively hung up. What a fine young man; why did he have to be gay?
"Who were you chatting with?"
No sooner had he hung up than Xue Rou returned.
"An acquaintance I haven't been in touch with for a long time. Just exchanging pleasantries," Su Hao said, glossing over it. He asked with a smile, "What’s next?"
"My mother asked me to arrange a position for you." Xue Rou handed him a job list. "Take a look and tell me which one you want."
"None of these roles suit me. How about I just be a security guard?"
"If I make you a security guard, my mother will kill me," Xue Rou said with a bitter smile. "You can heal and fight; opening a martial arts hall or a clinic would be more profitable than being a security guard."
Su Hao smoothed his hair. "With your current situation, if I go out and open a shop, who will protect you?"
"That’s true, I suppose."
Su Hao smiled faintly. "Being a security guard during work hours and a bodyguard after hours—protecting you at the company and at home—I think that’s quite good."
Hearing this, Xue Rou’s heart melted. How could she refuse? She immediately processed Su Hao’s onboarding.
The second it was done, her mother called. Just as Xue Rou was thinking about how to tell Shen Yue that Su Hao had chosen to be a security guard, she heard an anxious voice on the other end.
"Rou Rou, your grandfather suddenly collapsed half an hour ago. After being rushed to Jinling Hospital for an examination, they discovered he has terminal liver cancer. It’s very serious. You and Su Hao need to come to Jinling Hospital immediately. It’s a question of whether the old man can even pull through."
"What?!"
Xue Rou felt as if she had been struck on the head by a heavy hammer; it was buzzing. "But last month when Grandpa had his checkup, President Sun said it was just a stomach issue. How could it be..."
Shen Yue revealed the truth: "President Sun and your grandfather are life-and-death friends; he helped your grandfather hide his condition. I only just found out myself."
Xue Rou’s eyes turned red instantly. Even though her grandfather had prioritized Xue Aohan more over the years, he had still shown her plenty of concern. Hearing suddenly that her grandfather had terminal liver cancer and was beyond saving, she truly couldn't accept it.
Su Hao, who had been quietly eavesdropping, patted her shoulder and comforted her: "Let’s go to the hospital first. Perhaps I have a way."
Hearing this, a spark of hope ignited in Xue Rou’s eyes. She hung up, hailed a taxi, and rushed to Jinling Hospital with Su Hao...
Chapter 14: I can cure this illness, let me do it!
Along the way, Xue Rou’s tears fell like beads from a broken string, unstoppable. "Grandpa has always been very good to me. Although he would sometimes get angry with me because Xue Aohan’s family was always bad-mouthing me, he was mostly just angry that I was too weak, sob..."
Watching Xue Rou break down, Su Hao sighed, pulled her into his arms, and whispered comfortingly: "Stop crying. Liver cancer isn't such a big illness; I can cure it."
"Su Hao, I know you want to comfort me, but even if I were an idiot, I’d know what terminal liver cancer means. Please, don't lie to me or give me false hope..."
Xue Rou was so immersed in her sorrow that she couldn't pull herself out, so Su Hao had no choice but to stay quiet.
Ten minutes later, the two arrived at the entrance of Jinling Hospital. Xue Rou was so desperate to get there faster that she even took off her high heels and ran inside while carrying them.
When they reached the ward, Xue Kangning had already been moved into the intensive care unit. Xue Er stood at the door, blocking Xue Rou from entering.
"Rou Rou, wait a moment. The old man said he wants to see Su Hao. Once they finish talking, you can go in." Xue Er’s voice was hoarse; clearly, this was a massive blow to him as well.
Su Hao nodded and pushed the door open. He understood that Xue Kangning likely wanted to take this opportunity to tell him the truth about his heritage.
On the hospital bed, hearing the commotion, Xue Kangning gathered his strength and opened his eyes. His face was ashen, his lips blue; it truly was a case of illness descending like a landslide, completely lacking his former vigor.
Su Hao frowned deeply. Something was wrong. Even with terminal liver cancer, it was impossible to become this sickly overnight.
"Su..." Xue Kangning opened his mouth, but it took him a long time to squeeze out a single syllable; he was extremely weak.
"Grandpa Xue, don't speak for now. Conserve your strength; I will help you recover."
As he spoke, Su Hao placed his hand on Xue Kangning’s pulse. The moment he touched it, a flash of murderous intent crossed his eyes.
*Poisoned!*
Xue Kangning’s current condition was not at all the symptom of terminal liver cancer! There was a toxin in his system specifically targeting the liver. The doctors would naturally mistake his symptoms for cancer and would not conduct a toxicology screening.
*So it’s true, while you can guard against thieves, it’s hard to guard against a thief within your own household. Someone is secretly poisoning Grandpa Xue!* Su Hao was furious upon discovering this.
He was just about to tell Xue Rou when a noise broke out outside. With a loud "bang," a tear-streaked Xue Yi forcefully broke through the door and rushed in, putting on a display of heartbreaking grief before kneeling with a thud in front of Xue Kangning’s bed.
"Father, my good father, how did you end up like this overnight?" Xue Yi wailed loudly; anyone who didn't know better would have thought he was truly filial.
Su Hao frowned, intending to kick him out, but then he saw President Sun walk in, accompanied by a white-haired but spirited old man. The assistant behind the old man carried a small medicine kit that emitted a thick medicinal scent; he was clearly a traditional Chinese medicine practitioner.
When Shen Yue and Xue Er saw this man, joy appeared in their eyes. This white-haired old man was none other than the famous Medicine King of Jinling, Feng Zhongyi!
"Everyone, be quiet. I specifically invited Medicine King Feng to examine Old Xue. His time is precious, do not delay him." President Sun waved everyone away and politely asked Feng Zhongyi to sit and take Xue Kangning’s pulse.
For a long time, Feng Zhongyi didn't speak, but his brows drew tighter and tighter, looking very puzzled. Su Hao felt Feng Zhongyi looked very familiar, as if he had seen him somewhere before, but he couldn't recall their connection.
Just as Su Hao was deep in thought, Feng Zhongyi spoke up. "Forgive my bluntness, but you should prepare for the end. Elder Xue’s condition has truly penetrated to the bone marrow; it is beyond medical help. Furthermore, his symptoms don't look like they were caused by cancer, yet they are indeed cancer-induced. Sigh, in short, my skills are insufficient; he cannot be saved..."
Feng Zhongyi shook his head repeatedly. Upon hearing this conclusion, Xue Rou collapsed in tears. Shen Yue also burst into tears, clutching her daughter, not knowing what to do. Xue Yi and his wife were even more dramatic, kneeling on the floor, pounding the ground, and beating their chests—their acting was over the top.
Su Hao saw through their facade immediately, but now was not the time to pursue it. He stepped forward and said, "I can cure this illness. Let me do it."
Su Hao spoke with steady maturity, completely lacking the timidity of a younger generation member. However, the people present didn't believe him. Xue Yi scrambled up from the ground and roared with vigor, "You brat, playing pretend again, are you? What are you? Medicine King Feng said there’s no hope; what could a nobody like you possibly cure? Stop trying to disgust people here!"
Shen Yue frowned slightly and stepped out. "Brother, that’s not right, is it? We should try if there’s any hope at all. Maybe Su Hao really can do it?" Although Shen Yue didn't believe Su Hao could cure Xue Kangning either, she couldn't stand Xue Yi’s attitude.
Hearing this, Xue Yi sneered. "Sister, have you lost your mind too? What kind of status does Medicine King Feng have? He has already delivered the verdict; is there any need for others to point fingers and spout nonsense here?"
"You have been stopping me from treating Grandpa Xue the whole time. Are you worried that if I cure him, your hopes will be dashed?" Su Hao narrowed his eyes and said in a low voice.
"Nonsense! How could I think that?" Xue Yi’s eyes darted away, clearly feeling guilty.
Su Hao couldn't be bothered to expose him further and turned to Feng Zhongyi. "A healer has a benevolent heart. I believe Medicine King Feng won't stop me from saving my grandfather, right?"
Feng Zhongyi’s expression was ugly. If Su Hao were a respected master physician, he might give him some face, but the man was just an unproven youngster—even his own grandson was older than him. For such a person to jump out and claim he could treat Xue Kangning, looking as if he were superior to himself, was arrogant to the extreme. Yet, Su Hao had put him on a pedestal by invoking the "benevolent heart of a healer," so even if he were dissatisfied, he couldn't lash out.
"Although the medical profession requires the accumulation of experience, there is no shortage of geniuses who emerge unexpectedly. In any case, saving lives is paramount. Let him try."
Even though Feng Zhongyi had said this, President Sun remained hesitant. "Is this kid a medical student? Which medical school does he attend? How long has he studied? Is he reliable?"
Xue Er answered awkwardly, "President Sun, Su Hao is my son-in-law, just down from the mountains."
"Son-in-law? Mountains? Your judgment... sigh..." President Sun wanted to snap at Xue Er, but for the sake of face, he finally cooled down. "If he doesn't have medical qualifications, he cannot just treat people in our hospital. If he succeeds, that’s fine, but if he doesn't, our hospital will have to take the fall."
As soon as President Sun said this, Su Hao raised his hand. "I will be responsible for all consequences."
"You be responsible? What capital do you have to be responsible with? Don't tell me you’ll be responsible by going to jail?" Xue Yi scoffed and glared at Xue Rou. "Are you still not taking your idiot husband out of here? Aren't you embarrassed enough?"
"Do you have confidence?" Xue Rou didn't answer Xue Yi, but asked Su Hao instead.
"Of course!"
"How much?"
"One hundred percent!"
Hearing this, Xue Rou clenched her fists as if she had decided something. "Alright, treat Grandpa. The worst that happens is we lose our marital home as compensation!"
Chapter 15: Controlling needles with energy
Xue Rou’s words caught everyone by surprise. Xue Yi, who had been obstructing them in every way, fell silent instantly, looking like he couldn't wait for Xue Rou to walk into her own trap.
"Rou Rou, this matter..."
"Dad, you don't need to persuade me. This time, I trust Su Hao, and I am willing to face all risks with him." Xue Rou interrupted Xue Er. She knew what her father was thinking, but compared to a luxury house, her grandfather waking up was more important. Besides, if her grandfather passed away, with Xue Yi’s methods, the house (which hadn't been transferred yet) might not even end up in her hands anyway.
"Su Hao, do it."
Seeing that everyone had fallen silent because of Xue Rou’s declaration, Su Hao nodded slightly and took out a strange box containing silver needles radiating a chilling aura.
When Feng Zhongyi saw the needles, his pupils constricted sharply, and he asked in horror: "You... are these the Ice Soul Silver Needles?!"
"If you have questions, wait until I’ve finished the treatment. Do not disturb me," Su Hao said coldly.
"How bold, to speak to Medicine King Feng like that, you—"
"Shut up!" Xue Yi was about to stand up for Feng Zhongyi, but Feng Zhongyi glared at him and scolded him.
The reason his expression had changed was that the set of Ice Soul Silver Needles Su Hao possessed was a priceless treasure of his master’s sect. He had been taught that if he ever saw someone with these needles, he must treat them with the utmost respect. This person must be the contemporary Medical Immortal of the sect, a senior capable of bringing the withered back to life!
While Feng Zhongyi was mentally reeling, Su Hao took out several Ice Soul Silver Needles and began to insert them. The entire process was as fast as lightning; eyes couldn't even keep up. In the blink of an eye, the needles were precisely placed into Xue Kangning’s acupoints.